Good thread Frank.

1. Did you sail more in the first five years or in the last five
years?

Started sailing in the late 60's. I was rated able by my boat club
in 1968. It was a treat to find that document.

As a kid I sailed often in a summer program, nearly every day. I've
sailed more the last five years but I'd guess it is fairly equal. My peak
year was 1995 with over 160 days or more.

2. If the answer to number 1. is the last five years, were you retired
during that time?

Yes, semi-retired in a profession that allows me to chose what days
I want to work.

3. Have you owned multiple boats and has each one been larger and more
expensive than the one before it?

No. 16' (sold) to 46' & 14' & 30' & 14'. The last four I still have.

I've tended to go smaller, I just bought another Sunfish so that I can bring
a friend--in a different boat. It would not be surprising if I never sailed
that one, as I like the other one better.

I tend to look for bargains in boats that are particularly fun to sail, and
fix
them up. If I were to buy another boat I can see myself going for a big
Cat as a carrier for smaller dinghy's. I could see myself building or buying
a Mini-transat boat, although I'm too old to race one of those, I think it
would be a blast to sail! Given unlimited funds, I'd buy a Gunboat 80 and
hang a Melges 24 on the davits.

My impression is the hard core sailors tend to get bored with whatever
they have for a boat and are constantly looking for something even more
thrilling and exciting. So while going bigger may impress the ladies,
chosing
a very cool small boat is more likely to impresses real sailors, since a
fast
small boat is more likely to give a quantum performance leaps and white
knuckle thrills.

4. As you moved up in boat size did that also correspond with moving
up professionally with more stress, responsibility and time
constraints?

No. Was prevented from owning a boat due to military committments.
Bought lots of boats after I retired.

5. If the answer to 4. is yes did you sail less with each new boat
after the intial purchase year?

I tend to buy boats and fix them up. So boat use is dependent on
what sort of projects I'm working on. I tend to sail a lot on OPB's
to see what they are like, and some years, I put in a fair amount of
time teaching sailing which limits time on my own boats. Often my
boat use is limited due to lack of crew as dry sailing required 1 or
2 crew to launch.

6. Did you raise kids and during the time that they had conflicting
interests and activities, did that contribute to less sailing.

No.

7. Did a high percentage of your closest sailing friends and
acquaintences at the start of your sailing carreer at some point move
from sail to power or off the water altogether?

No. Only three people I know went to power. Of these two
still sail regularly on OBP's. Only one out of many hundreds I've
known truly went over to the dark side, buying a "cigarette boat".
Two people I know have switched from power to sail. I'd say the
trend even or perhaps the other way. For bigger boats, age is not
an issue if you can find crew. I have known a few sailors who
have downsized to reduce maintenance work.

8. Even when you owned boats did you do bareboat charters on a regular
basis.

I often get invitations to sail in the Caribbean which don't cost me
anything--often from people I've invited on charter's I've paid for as
a thank you. I usually charter/visit in the Caribbean once each winter
and, I'm getting ready to head down there again in the next few weeks.

9. Did you race (either your own boat or crewed on others) when you
were young and do you still race.

Yes as a kid, lots about 15 years ago, and yes, today, but not as much
due to other commitments.